[SR-71]

Thank you @digitalone and @heydj for your response. I have most of the documents ready. The only confusing portion is a few sections in the Visa application form. Attaching the screenshots of those sections and the application form.




Additionally it looks like they started issuing e-visa this year and need an active mobile internet connection to display it and printed copies of it not accepted.

https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/apply-visa

JAPAN eVISA starts in India from 1 April 2024.

You can apply for eVISA through Japan Visa Application Centers (VFS Global).

Type of VISA: Single entry short term visa for Tourism (up to 90 days)

Eligibility: Indian and foreign nationals who resides in India.

*Please note that applicants have to submit applications to the Visa Application Centers (VFS Global) as before but receive a visa issued in electronic form instead of a visa sticker on their passports.

How it works:

Those who received eVISA have to show “visa issuance notice” on a mobile device at the airport (internet access is needed!). In the form of PDF, photo, screenshot or printed copy will not be accepted.

How to show your eVISA

Please click here to learn how to display a “visa issuance notice” on a mobile device.

[mpksuhas]

Originally Posted by SR-71

Can someone advise on Japan tourist visa procedures please? [/list]

You can go through my earlier post on that. Its an easy procedure.

Details (Advice for Visas & Interviews)

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Turbanator

It's one visa - Schengen, valid in both countries you mentioned. You should apply at the Swiss consulate as it's where you are going to spend most of your time. Where you land/ enter is not a problem. Germany won't accept your application as the most time you are going to spend is another country.

This is correct. More than the port of entry/exit, they insist on applying with the country where you are going to spend the maximum no. of days during the holiday.

When was I applying Schengen visa for my family in 2023, we did an appointment with German visa application center. On checking the itinerary, the officer at the counter mentioned that we have to apply for Italian Schengen because the itinerary had more no. of days Italy (8 days in Italy vs 7 days in Germany). And as an alternative she said maybe change one booking in the itinerary from Italy to Germany, and we can continue with the visa submission. I quickly made a booking for Germany, realigned the plan as 9 days in Germany (and she helped me to print it out) and completed the application.

[greenhorn]

Has anyone applied for a Swedish tourist visa? I am trying to apply one for my mom to visit my sister, and had some doubts about the process - Please PM/Post here.
I have done UK/US/Canada/French for myself, but was handheld by my office travel teams, doing this myself for the first time. Reached out to a local travel agency, but their documentation is not matching the stuff that i can find online

For starters, how does one get started? usually there is an online form but for sweden I can see only a pdf form - what happens after you fill that up?

[FrozeninTime]

I am attending a medical conference in Thailand next week.
I am eligible for a Visa on arrival if I exit to Thailand via flight to Singapore?

[KA18]

Originally Posted by FrozeninTime

I am attending a medical conference in Thailand next week.
I am eligible for a Visa on arrival if I exit to Thailand via flight to Singapore?

Yes, no questions are asked at immigration now.

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by KA18

Yes, no questions are asked at immigration now.

Does Thailand needs VOA for Indians? I thought they have made it Visa free for Indian passport holders.

[KA18]

Originally Posted by thanixravindran

Does Thailand needs VOA for Indians? I thought they have made it Visa free for Indian passport holders.

It is currently being exempted for Indian visitors.
But you still need to go through immigration and get entry stamped, valid for 30 days.

[m8002?]

Hi,
Anyone renewed the B1/B2 visa from Bangalore recently using the interview waiver option?

I did the following:
1. Filled in DS-160 form online.
2. In the scheduling site, it showed I am eligible for interview waiver and enabled a "Drop-Off" button.
3. Went ahead and paid the visa fees.

Now, i am not able to select the option to schedule date for dropping off the passport and documents. Any VAC I choose, I just get a "no slots available" message or the site timesout ( with a CloudFlare message ).

Am I missing something here? I was hoping it to show me the drop off locations in Bangalore and/or option to upload the passport photo.


Edit:
It does show some slots for Kolkata. Should I select that and proceed? I really wanted the option to drop-off in Bangalore.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Hi,
Anyone renewed the B1/B2 visa from Bangalore recently using the interview waiver option?

I did the following:
1. Filled in DS-160 form online.
2. In the scheduling site, it showed I am eligible for interview waiver and enabled a "Drop-Off" button.
3. Went ahead and paid the visa fees.

Now, i am not able to select the option to schedule date for dropping off the passport and documents. Any VAC I choose, I just get a "no slots available" message or the site timesout ( with a CloudFlare message ).

Am I missing something here? I was hoping it to show me the drop off locations in Bangalore and/or option to upload the passport photo.


Edit:
It does show some slots for Kolkata. Should I select that and proceed? I really wanted the option to drop-off in Bangalore.

I have outlined the drop box process in detail which you can refer https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shift...ml#post5817286 (Advice for Visas & Interviews)

In short, you can chose any location in India and still drop off documents at Bangalore. Also, slots keep opening so keep checking regularly.

[m8002?]

Thanks again. Just to confirm, I take an appointment for Kolkata( for example ) and land up in banglaore drop off location at the same date and time?

[thanixravindran]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Thanks again. Just to confirm, I take an appointment for Kolkata( for example ) and land up in banglaore drop off location at the same date and time?

Yes, my friend selected Delhi as appointment centre but used Bangalore itself for drop box on the appointment date.. This is in the month of June for B1-B2 renewal.

[Aviator_guy]

Originally Posted by m8002?

Thanks again. Just to confirm, I take an appointment for Kolkata( for example ) and land up in banglaore drop off location at the same date and time?

Yes. Someone on your behalf can also submit. Also, there is home delivery option if you want passport couriered back to you.

[SR-71]

The following guidelines are for a first-time Japan tourist visa application for salaried folks at Bangalore with no ties to Japan. Requirements (documentation specifically) may differ for other class of applicants and location. This is my experience, you are strongly encouraged to refer the VFS website for the latest information.

Guidelines for filling the application form (I am highlighting only the non-obvious ones)

• ID No. issued to you by your government – I used the Aaadhar number
• Passport issuing authority – I used Ministry of External Affairs
• Certificate of eligibility - Can be left empty for tourists, I did
• Guarantor or reference in Japan – Not applicable for tourists with no ties in Japan, I simply added N/A
• Inviter in Japan – Same as above

Documents needed

• Filled and signed visa application form along with a recent photograph
• Covering letter clearly outlining the purpose of travel. If two are more people are travelling together, a single covering letter is enough. However, it should cover all the travelers name and passport details. Clearly mention the purpose of your visit, planned travel dates, the list of documents you have attached and your contact details. If you are sponsoring for everyone in the trip, highlight that in the letter. It might be good to highlight any recent travel. Keep it succinct. Probably the most recent trip or two should be good enough.
• A detailed itinerary with day-to-day break up. I used the template from the Japan’s ‘Ministry Of Foreign Affairs’ website - https://www.mofa.go.jp/files/000262548.pdf
• Your airline itinerary clearly mentioning your flight number(s), arrival and departure dates
• Accommodation information. It should clearly highlight the number of rooms and guests per room which should tally as per your group travel.
• Leave sanction and no objection letter from your employer in original
• Salary certificate from your employer (Not asked but I submitted)
• Last 3 months payslip
• 3 months bank statement up to the date of application. Though not mentioned anywhere I was advised to use the salary account statement. There is no specific ask for attestation from bank and I did not do that. I also submitted it for 6 months.
• Last 2 years IT returns. Note you only need the single page IT acknowledgement receipt, not the final intimation order. I submitted it for 3 years.
• Copy of your front and back of passport is asked in the VFS checklist though they returned it back to me.
• Sponsorship letter if you are sponsoring the travel for your co-travelers. The letter should clearly mention the name of the sponsored, relationship with the sponsor, and passport details. In case the sponsored is your spouse adding your marriage certificate helps in case your passport is not updated. As for parents and kids, I simply relied on the fact the respective passports highlight the parent-child relationship.
• It seems, if your passport is not issued from Bangalore and your local address is Bangalore you are expected to submit some form of local address proof. This was not a problem for me but it would be wise to get another opinion on this aspect.

Please note if you are travelling together, you need to book a single appointment in the VFS website by adding all the applicants in the application. Except for the visa application and the sponsorship letter (where applicable) both of which is per applicant, you only need one copy of all the other documents. You need to create an account in VFS website for your application. You need to choose ‘Short Term’ as the appointment category and ‘Tourist’ as the subcategory. Choosing the ‘Tourist Single Entry E Visa’ will show no appointment slots available. I learnt this whole thing the hard way. VFS Bangalore for Japan is very chaotic and your appointment time doesn't seem to matter much. I walked up 15 minutes prior to my appointment time and ended up in FIFO queue. The desk agent was a bit unfriendly. This is very different experience compared to UK or Schengen desk.

The charge is Rs.500 for Visa application, Rs.800 as VFS service charges and Rs.550 for shipping your passport back to your home. Though the last one is optional, they desk agent did not even ask if I want to opt for the service and simply filled the receipt including the charges and asked me to pay it at the cash counter. Since it was convenient for me to get the passport shipped, I did not have a problem, however folks staying close by might want to opt out of it though I hear they dont let you do that easily. They insist on cash and did not have change, so it's better to carry the exact change. Once you give the payment confirmation receipt back to the desk agent he asks you to wait. You are called sometime later (I had to wait for 30 minutes) to verify the address in the courier cover and on confirmation you are handed over your application receipt and you are on your way out.

You get an email later in the evening confirming the receipt of the application. You can track the status from then on in VFS website. If your application is fuss free It take 5 working days excluding the day you submit the passport for the passport to arrive back at VFS and another day to reach your home via Blue Dart. If your visa is approved, you get a paper slip with visa details and a QR code along with your passport. Refer to - How to display “Visa issuance notice” - section in the webpage (3rd on list below) on how to use this for your travel.

Some webpages that help you with the application
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/jpn/apply-visa - VFS
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/...ther_visa.html - MOFA page with details including some templates
https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/...isaonline.html - Guidelines including how to use your e-visa

[NomadSK]

Travel agencies are reporting an unprecedented rise in visa rejections for Indian tourists looking to travel to Dubai, following stricter requirements for tourist visa applications to the Gulf city, creating widespread uncertainty and financial losses for travellers.

LINK